Eric Choi

As our world grows increasingly more digital, we find that the pace of technological advancement continues to accelerate. We’re at the start of a Fourth Industrial Revolution according to Klaus Schwab, the founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, and we’ve arrived at the start of this new age in less than half the time it took for the Third Industrial Revolution to occur.

In a world where time is a commodity and the rate of inflation for education expenses has far surpassed that of health care, the idea of a traditional college experience is taking on a new dimension. The erratic economy over the past two decades has dictated the need for low-cost and innovative alternatives to higher education. This need coupled with the rise of a digital world has bred a college experience that can be specialized and completed from anywhere. Online programs allow students the opportunity to participate in class and complete coursework when it fits their schedule and at a price that is increasingly more affordable. More than three million students in the U.S. are currently pursuing a degree entirely online. This number is only expected to grow as student interest increases, institutions expand their online offerings, and employer acceptance of an online degree rises.

In an effort to make online education more affordable, we have seen an increase in accredited online-only universities. Los Angeles Pacific University (LAPU) was built to provide a best-in-class online university - making it their mission to remove the barriers to affordability and accessibility with a high-quality, faith-integrated education that is intentionally accessible, career-relevant, and committed to student success. Backed by over a century of experience in providing superior on-ground educational opportunities with Azusa Pacific University, LAPU is taking online education to the next level.

The other weekend, I stopped by the local mall for the first time in well over a year, and I noticed a few surprising changes. For one, it was past lunch hour, yet the food court was still packed - and not everyone was eating. Many were simply using the space as a place to hang out.

Another thing that surprised me was that the mall still had a Barnes & Noble, although it had very little foot traffic, especially for a weekend. Inside, half the store appeared to be your typical Barnes & Noble that I remembered - books and magazines; but the other half of the store was dedicated to toys, games, and gifts.

I realized that what’s happening at the mall as well as Barnes & Noble mirrors what’s happening with many campus bookstores at colleges and universities. Call me Captain Obvious, but it’s pretty apparent that both the mall and campus bookstore need to evolve in order to survive - becoming more of a multi-purpose destination to not just shop, but to meet, eat, and socialize.